Suman mukhopadhyay’s nazarband (captive) to make its world premiere at the prestigious 25th busan international film festival

Jyothi Venkatesh

National Award-winning filmmaker Suman Mukhopadhyay’s Hindi feature film, Nazarband (Captive) will make its World Premiere at the largest and most significant film festival in Asia, 25th Busan International Film Festival. Originally set to open Oct. 8, Busan Film Festival will be held October 21-30 both offline and online.

Inspired by a short story by noted Bengali writer Ashapurna Devi, Nazarband marks a debut of Indira Tiwari (the National School of Drama actress who will be seen in Sudhir Mishra and Sanjay Leela Bansali’s next) as Vasanti and Tanmay Dhanania (Brahman Naman, Garbage, Cats Sticks and Made in Heaven) as Chandu.The film is about Vasanti and Chandu, the unlikely pair of two jailbirds embark on a harrowing journey and unpredictable odyssey drifting across the intimidating terrain of Kolkata. Nazarband is a visceral look at survival and a heartfelt exploration into the depths of companionship and the meaning of rejection and acceptance.

Mukhopadhyay, the director of critically acclaimed films, Herbert, Asamapta (Incomplete), Posham Pa, and Kangal Malsat (War Cry of the Beggars) says, “I am immensely delighted to be part of this internationally renowned festival. This selection gives me a new stimulus as a filmmaker.”The producer Pawan Kanodia shares his happiness and says, “The film Nazarband is our labour of love and we are delighted that it is making its World Premiere at the prestigious Busan film Festival.

It’s a great beginning and we can’t wait to share our film with the world.”London based Kate Mcdonough has shot the film and Tinni Mitra has edited it, the music of the film is composed by Prabudhdha Banerjee and sound designed by Bigyna Dahal. The film is written by Anustup Basu, Asad Hussain and Suman Mukhopadhyay. The film, shot extensively in Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal, is produced by Pawan Kanodia & AVA Film Productions.

Suman Mukhopadhyay has directed several feature films including Nazarband (2020); Posham Pa (2019); Asamapta (2017); Shesher Kobita (2014); Kangal Malsat, (2013); Mahanagar@Kolkata (2009); Chaturanga (2008) and Herbert (2005) which won the National Award for Best Regional Film that year.

He participated and won awards in various national and international film festivals and also made a number of documentaries, TV series, short films and cine-plays. He was conferred with a script development award from Motion Picture Association, USA and Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Brisbane in 2017.Pawan Kanodia, with his production house AVA Film Productions Pvt. Ltd., has produced a wide-range of films since 1991.

In more than 25 years, he has produced 25 films of different genres: from commercial blockbusters to experimental films. His films have been screened in Toronto, Busan, BFI, Munich international festivals and also in Indian film festivals in New York, Los Angeles and Melbourne.